I'm working on a YouTube mini series explaining the Fediverse!!
Who are the most knowledgeable people in this realm who I should definitely talk to?
What do you think is important to include in my series? I want to hear thoughts!!
@thekerker @taylorlorenz
I would be more then happy to help out 
@Gargron @mellifluousbox @alice
@taylorlorenz
First thoughts are of course @mastodonmigration, @stux, and @jerry.
@taylorlorenz got to talk to @cwebber who is a real luminary on this technology but also future ideas for new ways to build social apps!
@taylorlorenz I think it would be interesting to hear about the benefits, *and* the pitfalls, of the fediverse in general and Mastodon in particular.
@taylorlorenz I'd say it's worth talking to @jerry from a technical and from a social standpoint.
@taylorlorenz
@_elena has been been doing tremendous work in this area.
@Szescstopni Ah, thank you for tagging me!
@taylorlorenz Happy to answer any questions you might have!
I know I'm going to forget a ton of people, but you will definitely want to hear from:
@_elena
@dansup
@evan
@julian@community.nodebb.org
@julian@fietkau.social
@stefan@gardenstate.social
@tchambers
@thisismissem
@stefan @taylorlorenz This list of people is what I expected you'd answer with :)
@Szescstopni Yeah, this is why I hardly do Follow Fridays. There are just so many cool people doing cool things!
But I think this is a good start, and I already see others adding good suggestions.
@stefan thank you!! Stefan going to send you a DM but would love to chat for a few if you have time!
@taylorlorenz
1. No algorithm. You see the posts you choose to see, not those chosen for you.
2. Most posts are by grownups for grownups.
3. Moderation is sensible & not oppressive.
4. Creativity (art/photography, writing, music) is respected and posts rewarded with boosts for wider dispersal.
5. Content is normally respectful, even in spirited debates. Blocking/muting users is easy & anonymous.
6. Care is taken to use & encourage accessibility aids for users with disabilities.
7. Humor abounds & user games are original and fun.
8. Politics does dominate general posts, but a) most views are respectfully presented; b) it’s possible to block content without blocking users; c) the users I see share my own bias (I see no MAGA posts).
9. Fedi is international — a giant plus for me personally.
10. I’ve been online with (all) social media platforms since the late 90’s, and the Fedi is by far my favorite. I migrated here from twitter in 2022, after Musk bought it.
😊
@stux @thekerker @taylorlorenz @Gargron @mellifluousbox @alice be careful what you say…
@64bithero I've done some 'interviews' before 
And if we can grow the Fedi, im all in
@thekerker @taylorlorenz @Gargron @mellifluousbox @alice
@mastodonmigration @taylorlorenz
For analysis don't forget @laurenshof
@taylorlorenz @_elena is a noted promoter of the Fediverse. She's made videos about it.
@jaz for local community (Wales) and moderation.
@quillmatiq for connecting to other networks.
@hongminhee for supporting developers.
@cubicgarden for relationships to public service media. @Casey for independent publishers building community. @ben for unexpected crowdsourced fundraising success. @pluralistic for the big picture. @ntnsndr for cooperative instance governance.
... and so many more. If you are interested in a particular subject, happy to help find you an expert.
If you are looking for some notable user accounts perhaps consider:
Law and Politics
@heidilifeldman
@taylorlorenz TBH you should also talk to @Alice who works harder to build a truly absurd and fun culture then anyone else on the platform. When people talk about vibes, she sets them.
@taylorlorenz @tchambers I've talked about Fediverse in a WordPress related event, I could help you out somehow (about accessibility, about self-hosting), while about Fediverse vs. beginners you could talk to @_elena
@taylorlorenz I feel like picking a server is the most daunting task that trips people up. If you could focus on how to pick one that would be good. Also make it clear it doesn't really matter much, since you can migrate your account if you find a different one you like later on (at least on Mastodon you can)
@taylorlorenz imho any decent intro should include some ways to find people to follow that post about variety of topics. most people coming from currently popular platforms would be used to algorithmically generated content/timeline and when they just create account and log in they simply won't see anything of interest to them (local/global feeds are full of politics and negative tech news)... without following at least 100 active people that post things that you care about this place can be pretty depressing.
@taylorlorenz I would talk to @kissane about this: https://erinkissane.com/fediverse-governance-drop
@mastodonmigration @taylorlorenz Happy to talk, on the understanding that I'm probably the least credentialed person that's been recommended in this thread.
Hmmm... not sure that's true.
i strongly suggest seeking perspectives beyond those of the hegemonic white FLOSS-head user base here, there has been a lot of dialogue and struggle around these issues here. this is a good read:
https://logicmag.io/policy/blackness-in-the-fediverse-a-conversation-with-marcia-x/
@taylorlorenz
I'd recommend @cyberlyra who would be awesome on your series. She can connect the Fediverse to digital independence from big tech.
I'd also suggest looking for stories from everyday users who can articulate the difference from corporate social media platforms and how they found their community on apps like Mastodon. Interspersed with the experts, real people can help make the experience more personal and relatable.
@taylorlorenz @rwg <- that would be someone I'd talk to, since he did a lot of research on the Fediverse and wrote a book about it.
@taylorlorenz You will want to talk to @mho about success in German language media markets. Mastodon brings more traffic than X.
@taylorlorenz Christine Lemmer Webber obviously...and anybody else that works at Spritely institute.
@taylorlorenz If you can manage to speak to George Takei he was an account everyone followed during the early Mastadon era. It was a strange way people started populating their feeds.
It probably fragments pretty fast afterwards although the beige.party instance stands out as a high quality follow. Everyone on the instance is great to follow if only for the engagement and amusement they generate.
@taylorlorenz I'd suggest @FediTips and @FediFollows
Ideally, talk to people who've had success moving a group or community from other social media to the Fediverse.
@taylorlorenz the data scientist @nrennie who is a leader in #dataviz
@taylorlorenz You should talk to @evan and @cwebber for sure - both involved in development and cool people
@taylorlorenz I would be interested to hear from other journalists on the platform, if you know any, about their experience and on which instance they’ve settled.
I remember when I joined there was a concerted effort to grow journo.host, but I’m not sure what came of it. If someone asked me who to follow today I wouldn’t have good answer.
@taylorlorenz I'll (humbly) suggest @jerry - admin of the long-standing infosec.exchange masto instance, proprietor of the jerryverse (i.e. a wide variety of Fedi instances), and all-around good chap 👍
@taylorlorenz I think one thing worth mentioning is that there are lots of people on Mastodon that aren’t influencers, or experts, but just interesting people sharing slices of life with others. Things like cats, nature, art, pets, funny stories, weather and a lot more make it a bit more human in my opinion.
There are definitely news feeds and analysis from topic experts ranging from climate to legal, but there is also a lighthearted side and a socially engaging side you don’t find on things like BlueSky. Here, people will actually respond to something you post (without flaming you :-)
@taylorlorenz I'd second the recommendation for @cwebber
I'd also recommend a glance at my essay on why Mastodon/Fedi is currently the best choice for social networking: https://www.tbray.org/ongoing/When/202x/2025/11/03/Time-to-Migrate
@taylorlorenz
I don't have any names to throw around but I did have a suggestion...3 or 4 random users ...maybe set up a poll . .get those people as a general user experience, as opposed to.an influencer or a designer....people on the street takes.
Like the old days
Talking to the forkiverse admins would be a good case study on moving a community here:
@taylorlorenz is the scope of this just Mastodon or could it also include things like PixelFed, WriteAs and PeerTube? Just a thought.
@taylorlorenz I could certainly offer some historical framing… 😬
@taylorlorenz @FediTips provides detailed beginner friendly information through their sites and handles
@taylorlorenz I'd nominate @Edent, both very social and very much versed in the tech itself.
@taylorlorenz
Please don't forget to mention that in many mastodon servers there is a rule that you cannot "annoy" people, yes it's as arbitrary as it sounds. As you could imagine the simple fact of disagreeing with someone in the comments (even if is made with absolute respect and rationality) will annoy that person so you can be banned for that. The consequence is that some mastodon branches aren't a place to discuss rationally, only a place where you show off your opinions and there is no debate admitted about it.
There is a fedimagazine being written by fediversers in spanish
I am not part of it but I can say it is very representative of this side of the fediverse
@taylorlorenz
@mapache who wrote Badgefed, a guide on how to federate Wordpress blogs, and several other projects
I read through the lists people gave you already, and my one addition would be people who create games and events for us to enjoy, like:
@hashtaggames 9 O’Clock #HashTagGames with host @paul
@monsterdon and #Monsterdon which I think is arranged by @Taweret
@JoParkerBear and #JoWordle.
@taylorlorenz Already you are getting many good responses to your question, and I notice many names whom I recognize as some of my favorites. Sometimes one of them posts something I simply take as fact, without my bothering to verify. One thing I have not verified, but have treated as if a fact, is from someone with a YouTube channel who posts content in the English language, but who speaks another language in his home country. He posted that the new AI thing with YouTube altered his carefully selected English subtitles without him knowing or being notified. This was an issue for him because he and some of his viewers use English as a common language, but the AI generated changes to his captions did not help or improve this communication choice. When he posted that, I deleted my YouTube account and now spend more time on PeerTube.
For some more great and diverse perspectives maybe speak to @Yehuda who runs a Native owned and operated BIPOC friendly instance and advocates for more BIPOC visibility and fairer representation in the Fediverse, and @vantablack creator of @FediPact and Legendary Defender Of The Fediverse
I"m fairly new here, I know I am missing much but don't know what I don't know. A Map a simple map would be helpful with a short comment on each branch & leaf.
Peace
@taylorlorenz Please represent people from the global south, @liaamancio comes to mind
@taylorlorenz The trending page usually have people different than the typical userbase I'd encounter on american platforms. It is decentralized, so sometimes I get to see dutch or german posters even if I don't know any of their language.
Mastodon fediverse is part of why I have a home here. I get to avoid meeting the same group of chronically online posters raking over 200k posts since 2010s and reading about whatever irks them.
@taylorlorenz I think the most important concept is that Fedi is social networking, not social media. There is no media company publishing us as their product here. It's just people talking to each other. Pretty much everything else follows.
I think it's also worth looking at how many governments and institutions have an official presence on Fedi now. Many have chosen that path to enable direct connection with the public instead of being mediated by a private company with its own interests.
@taylorlorenz Heard joke once: Woman goes to scientist. Says she's confused about the Fediverse. Says life seems harsh and cruel. Says she feels all alone in a confusing culture where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain.
Scientist says, 'Treatment is simple. Great journalist Taylor Lorenz is in town tonight. Go and see her. That should answer all your questions.'
Woman bursts into tears. Says, 'But sir… I am Taylor.' Good joke. Everybody laugh. Roll on snare drum. Curtains.
@taylorlorenz Have you identified @_elena yet? https://youtu.be/YRJHIJy5Nno?is=vqnJu9OTypou-G2Q
@taylorlorenz please not only tech people. We also have @_elena or @aemarielle or @davidrevoy
@taylorlorenz i know things, i think. scream at me?
@taylorlorenz I would definitely talk to @sabrinkmann. He’s doing a lot of different Mastodon/Fediverse projects and is the biggest enthusiast I know 💜
@taylorlorenz
Since hashtags are something you can follow in the Fediverse, talk to @paul who (among other things) runs the 9 o'clock #HashtagGames ( @hashtaggames ) as a common bubble-piercing activity here.
@taylorlorenz definitely ask @FediTips! They already do an amazing job at explaining the Fediverse and writing down tips for everyone :)
@taylorlorenz What a question! The success has many fathers/mothers, so you will get as many responses.
No fediverse without ActivtyPub. Talk to the people who made ActivityPub. @Gargron was mentioned, but @cwebber and @evan are as important.
Talk to Arnaud Le Hors from IBM. He was chair of the Social Web WG for a very long time. A lot of myth around the creation of Activity Pub was build recently. What I like the most? People/Influencers mansplaining fediverse to @cwebber 😅
@taylorlorenz In the German speaking realm: Linus Neumann https://23.social/@linuzifer, Tim Pritlove https://mastodon.social/@timpritlove
Gavin Karlmeier https://www.gavinkarlmeier.de
But I think they know their bit of English too.
@taylorlorenz @phocks you definitely need to include plenty of trans representation, and other LGBTIQ groups. Most (but not all servers) are very inclusive, and openly declare that if you are unhappy around non traditional identities you probably should go elsewhere.
@taylorlorenz
@_elena !!!
You MUST include her and her work!
Your feed is still "for you", but its "by you" now.
It is not made by an algorithm that builds it for you automatically. You have the power and responsibility to build it your self. Its more work but also more freedom.
There are many different bubbles/cultures in the fediverse and thus a variety of feed possibilities. From hyper political to just the plushieverse to just pictures of moss...
The Fediverse may not house as many people but that makes it more human and calmer often.
Nobody in our cult has interest in talking you. #DSMC #DeadSpaceman #Niggers #Rap #Finance
perhaps one issue to bring up that most others won't is the perspective of the widely blocked servers.
they say it's their non left perspectives. admins who block them will say it's mostly harassment and that their users post hate and misinfo.
managing this is a struggle on a truly decentralized network. no algo means people can mostly not see what they don't want to. to grow, we should want conservatives here too, but we'll also lose users if there's lots of unwanted tagging.
@taylorlorenz Be sure to include fediverse-aware YouTubers like @vkc / @posts and @thelinuxEXP
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@taylorlorenz My name came up in a non-public subthread.
A lot of what I would have to say has been documented in the "people's history" type articles written about a decade back by Robek and Strypey, about the early, pre-Masto Fediverse from a user and social perspective, but I could be helpful with clarifications. (I'll try to locate those articles)
Like many others have pointed out, I would say Evan, CWebber and Gargron have key perspectives not to leave out from a history, protocol, development and hosting perspective, and for modern hosting perspectives and broadness of software and ways of running communities, I'd talk to Jerry and Darius.
I think all of these people have been at-mentioned elsewhere in the thread and I won't spam them further here.
Another interesting branch of the Fediverse historically is the one with Quitter, En Kompis Kompis, Freesocial and the Umeå Hackerspace, but I'm not sure where to find mmn, pettter and peer2hannes these days. If I @ them here, my server gives me the defunct Umeå Hackerspace server.
Oh, and I hope someone digs out that beautiful fedi software landscape poster from that workshop a few years ago.
That the fediverse is not just “Mastodon”. This message is written and sent from a Pleroma server, it has nothing to do with Mastodon.
@taylorlorenz
Things to talk about: The history of the fediverse before Mastodon.
People to talk to who haven't been mentioned ITT yet: @silverpill . He has written standards for self-custody of keys on fedi.
@taylorlorenz I think it's definitely important to include that 2008's StatusNet is what eventually became ActivityPub
@taylorlorenz if she’s available, you should talk with @Em0nM4stodon here herself about this topic, especially if you need good perspective from someone other than a technical server operator 👀
@taylorlorenz if you'd like to explore a bit outside the anglosphere, @kenobit is one of the people behind one of the most vibrant Italian instances. Also maybe someone from the collective @Bida which started the first big Italian instance
@Gargron founder of mastodon
@evanprodromou fediverse activity pub protocol
@alice fedi celeb
@georgetakei world renowned star trek actor
@hannah jeopardy winner and master weaver or yarn
All helped shape my perception of fedi/mastodon.
Founder of the web @timbl
And @pluralistic, author of The Internet Con and Enshitification
You should speak to the people who conceived the Fediverse. Unfortunately, Ilya Zhitomirskiy from the Diaspora Project is no longer with us. There are others from that era. Mike Macgirvin, Michael Vogel and Tobias Diekershoff are also key figures. Without them, the Fediverse would not exist and your documentary would be incomplete.
You should post this same in https://feddit.online/c/fediverse@lemmy.world .
You can do that also by notifying @ fediverse@lemmy.world, but keep in mind that you still have to check the messages using a browser in order to see everything: mastodon only federates Forumverse conversations to a certain limited depth. (Also, some _replies_ made from within Mastodon to Forumverse communities don't get federated out by Mastodon!)
Still, Forumverse is Fediverse as well, and good to take aboard your quest!
Who are the most knowledgeable people in this realm who I should definitely talk to?All people who don't federate with your instance, so a bit difficult to talk to them.
What do you think is important to include in my series?- Alternative software to Mastodon, such as Pleroma, Misskey, Friendica, ...
- The origins of the Fediverse
- The drive of people to come here for the different culture, rather than trying to change the culture that existed here for the "benefit" of mass adoption
- The harms of wannabe political masterminds to the fediverse, through initiatives such as fediblock
- The harms to the fediverse through super-instances (like the one you're on)
the culture stuff like alt-text, not sharing if not alt-texting, monsterdon and silentSunday, fediblock
@taylorlorenz I heard on the Hard Fork podcast that it was an insignificant obscure thing for tech nerds and I joined in their little experiment to make it a thing. Honestly though I want to make the specific structure of our social online spaces an issue that is relevant to everyone, it's past being a tech nerd thing to be on the Internet. I hope your series creates more traction!
Depends on your angle, but @benjamin and @bortzmeyer are always interesting.
@aeris too if you want hot takes.
@mekkaokereke may point you to good people to talk to about the Black Twitter migration (and he has his own takes)